Today my was first day shooting with the Summilux 21mm f/1.4. It was an interesting experience for me. I have never shot with a wide angle prime lens before. One thing I learnt today was not to trust my preview screen on the back. I was less than impressed with my shots when reviewed them as I was out but I was much more pleased when I got home and saw them on my Macbook Pro 17' screen. I was even questioning myself if I made the right choice in lens. I know I did once I saw it on screen. This is a great example of why you shouldn't try to 'edit' your pictures in your camera. That little screen is only to validate framing and not much else. Decide if your shots are keepers when you get home.

The one thing I love right away about this lens is the 3D quality of the pictures. Things to be seem more alive in the pictures. I stopped by Yodobashi at lunch and picked up a 21mm view finder. The M9's built in view finder is 28mm which means when I am shooting with a 21mm lens I am only seeing 75% of the picture I will take. If you care about what is in the corners a 21mm becomes important.

I stopped by MAP Camera and ordered an ND 4 so I can shoot this wide open during the day as if you have a 1.4 you should shoot it at 1.4. I have started to read a lot on Leica recently. A lot of lenses when manufactured might be a 1.2 or a 1.4 but they perform optimally at 5.6 or something other than wide open. Leica lens actually perform optimally wide open. This means you can really get the full range of the lens and exploit it's capabilities.

I am always tempted when I go by Burger King. It is so much better than McDonald's and interestingly they sell beer in Japan! I pass on BK for today but one day I will probably stop by...

Starbucks and many establishments in Japan continue to operate with reduced lighting to conserve power.

I don't know about you but I actually enjoy the food at Starbucks in Japan. The sandwiches are light and tasty. I like their current Chicken and Pasta Salad.

My desk.... I do like the newly designed Starbucks cups but I don't think they needed to copy their signature 'drip' that seems to happen with their cups to the new cup.

Today's 3 earthquakes were not strong enough to shake my piles of change over...a new earthquake 'gauge' I have now. Sadly I didn't even notice two of earthquakes today. Someone tweeted today and say unless objects start falling on them they really don't notice anymore. We have had 200+ magnitude 5.0 earthquakes in the past 7 days in Tokyo. Amazing...

I think it will take me a while to learn to control this lens. Where to focus? How close to have the main subject? What looks best framed this way or that way? If anyone has any experience, please feel free to share tips. These are not all of my best shots but I thought I would include them as I think it is interesting to see the learning process and development of skills with the lens.